happy baby photo shoot

finally got a picture of the sweet silly smile!

and of course one with the tongue out :)

xoxo
Ashlea

almost got one!

Miss Charlotte has been smiling for weeks now and I have been trying to catch one on camera but I swear that girl knows what I am up to and stops smiling the minute I get out the camera. This is the closest I have come to capturing one, its not a full smile but she sure does look precious.

xoxo
Ashlea

I think she remembers......

how she used to be in my belly while I bounced on the yoga ball :)

 

Its her favorite thing in the whole world, it can always calm her down.

xoxo
Ashlea

Photo Dump and a video

summer time nautical wear

working on neck control and finding her thumb

finally paci success!!!!!

snuggles

 

6 week growth spurt = fussy baby

sweet dreams

now every time we do tummy time, she is trying to scoot and move and gets mad when she doesn't get anywhere

Thai Noodles

  Since Miss Charlotte has come into our family the cooking in this house has taken a serious hit. Its hard to find an hour to dice, chop, peel and mix together a meal when this tiny human needs you to eat, sleep. cuddle, stay clean and well everything.

So I have been trying some new quick recipes until the little one is old enough to hang out while I cook. The latest winner is a one pot Thai noodle dish - it hits all the marks- one pot, little prep work, healthy and ready in under 15 minutes. I was surprised at how tasty it was and it made enough for both Tony and I to have dinner and lunch the next day.

ONE POT WONDER THAI PEANUT PASTA
12 ounces linguine
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
I tablespoon tamarind paste
1 tablespoon soy sauce (and/or fish sauce, if desired)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 inches of a ginger root, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 lime, in 1/4 inch slices
1 large carrot, peeled and cut in 1/4 inch by 2 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut in 1/4 inch by 2 inch pieces
3 green onions, sliced in half lengthwise and then in 2 inch pieces
1 cup roasted salted peanuts
2 tablespoons peanut butter
One small bunch of cilantro (flat leaf parsley will work in a pinch)

Optional garnishes:
Fresh lime juice
Chopped peanuts
Mung bean sprouts

Place all ingredients except garnishes in a large stockpot. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer and keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until pasta is al dente and almost all liquid has evaporated – I left about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot – but you can reduce as desired .
Season to taste with salt and pepper , stirring pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot.
Remove slices of ginger and limes.Dish up the pasta and then sprinkle on garnishes as desired.

ENJOY!!

xoxo
Ashlea

family visits

  These past few days we had Uncle Robert and Aunt Maggie visiting. It was great, we sat around and talked, ate BBQ and fried chicken and of course cuddled and stared at miss Charlotte. She loved her Aunt Maggie, every time she held her she was calm and quiet.

Of course they loved her awesome hair and we discovered that her hair bears a striking resemblance to a certain dictator and childhood toy........

Which one do you think is most similar?

I vote the great leader, hopefully that is were the similarities end :)

xoxo
Ashlea

photo dump

life lately looks like......

lots of wearing her in the carrier,

starting to wear some 0-3 month clothes!,

and me getting to stay up later than her because of some great overnight sleep habits she has developed :)

 xoxo
Ashlea